Exhibitors Herald (1927)

36 EXHIBITORS HERALD April 2, 1927 Mayor Walker, Gilda Gray Will Lead A. M. P. A. Grand March Dinner to Start at 7 :30 Promptly; Program to Be Broadcast; 16 Ambassadors to Arrive on Special Train By JOHN S. SPARGO N’EW YORK, Mar. 29. — Everything is all set now for the greatest function in the history of the Associated Motion Picture Advertisers, the Seventh Annual and First International dinner of the film industry’s organization of advertising and publicity men, at the Hotel Astor, next Saturday night, starting at 7 :30 o’clock sharp. yy ALTER EBERHARDT, president of * * the A. M. P. A., stresses the fact that the dinner will start promptly at 7 ;30 p. m., even if no more than 100 persons are present at the time. “We are compelled to start the dinner right on time,” he explained, “because of the arrangements made to broadcast the affair over station WJZ. The hotel has made all its plans to go ahead without delay and all of our guests of honor have promised to be on time. Those who are late will miss a lot, not to mention the possibility of cold food.” Last minute developments are : That Mayor James J. Walker of New York has agreed to lead the grand march with CUda Gray, the queen of all dancers; That while 16 Latin-American countries will be represented at the dinner by diplomats from Washington, Charles Spencer Chaplin will be present in person as America’s ambassador of laughter : That “A Night on Broadway” will be an outstanding feature of the entertainment ; That the affair is a complete sell-out and promises to overshadow all others of the past. The Central and South American ambassadors, ministers and charge d’affaires, 16 in number, will arrive on a special train Saturday afternoon at the Pennsylvania railroad station. They will be met by newsreel cameramen and still photographers and will be escorted by a motorcycle squad to the Astor. Pictures taken of their arrival will be shown as part of the evening’s entertainment. The diplomats include six ambassadors, 12 ministers and three charge d’affaires. The countries they represent in this expression of good will between the American motion picture industry and Latin America include Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Haiti, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Salvador, Ecuador, Paraguay and Honduras. In addition to Charlie Chaplin and Gilda Gray other screen celebrities whose attendance promises to make this the most impressive of all motion picture dinners are: Alice Joyce, Mae Allison, Lowell Sherman, Pauline Garon, Ben Lyon, Sam Hardy, Louis John Bartels and George Walsh. A great many other leading lights of both the stage and screen are also expected. While the function is lent an air of dignity by the attendance of the LatinAmerican envoys and the presence of Will Hays as toastmaster and Hon. Herbert Hoover, the foreign diplomats. Mayor James J. Walker and A. M. Botsford, advertising manager of Publix, as speakers, the entertainment will be an important part. This will be supervised by Major Edward Bowes, managing director of the Capitol theatre. The first item will be “The American Tragedy,” a film travesty on newspaper critics themselves, produced by Rose Pelswick. Immediately after its showing it will be criticized by the press agents. A solo number will be followed by Victor Shapiro’s annual newsreel burlesque, which has been a highlight in all A. M. P. A. dinners. Major Bowes is bringing down his entire Capitol Family to round out an hour’s en tertainment. Specially prepared numbers by the Studio orchestra, the Capitol soloists and a ballet ensemble will be punctuated by introductions of celebrities in the ballroom. Speechmaking and entertaining will occupy an hour each. At the conclusion of the entertainment will come the grand march, led by Mayor Walker and Gilda Gray, to be followed by dancing till dawn. A feature of the dinner will be the appearance of “Veracity,” a burlesque weekly “grade paper,” edited by C. W. Barrell and Ed McNamee. The committee in charge of the dinner consists of: Walter Eberhardt, S. Charles Einfeld, Ed ward Finney, Melville A. Shauer, Tom Wiley, Arthur James, Victor M. Shapiro, Hal Howe, Edward McNamee, A. L. Selig, C. W. Barrell, John C. Flinn as marshal, James Zabin, George Harvey, W. E. Mulligan, Hubert Voight, Bert Adler and Ken Hallam. Let’s go ! (Pictures in Pictorial Section). * * Joseph M. Schenck has leased the Globe theatre for Norma Talmadge’s picture version of “Camille,” which will have its world premiere April 21. Miss Talmadge’s version will be modern although her interpretation of the role will be founded on the actual life story of Dumas’ heroine. Fred Niblo, responsible for such famous pictures as “Blood and Sand,” “The Three Musketeers” and “Ben Hur,” directed Miss Talmadge in Camille, and many prophesy that this will be the greatest triumph in her career. In bringing this romance to the screen, Mr. Schenck, who is producing the feature for First National, stipulated that every role be entrusted to well known actors and actresses. Gilbert Roland plays the part of Armand Duval. Other distinguished members of the cast are Alec B. Francis, Helen Jerome Eddy, Lilyan Tashman, Rose Dione, Oscar Beregi, Harvey Clark, Albert Conti, Michael Visaroff, Evelyn Selbie and Etta Lee. * * * Brandt’ s Theatre Enterprises, William Brandt, president, has purchased from Small and Strausberg the Terminal theatre at Fourth Avenue and Dean Street, Brooklyn. The Terminal theatre is one of Brook Pictures Book^ Into Roxy Theatre Announced (Special to the Herald) NEW YORK, March 29.— Pictures announced as booked into the Roxy, besides United Artists’ “The Love of Sunya,’’ which opened the theatre, include: “Fighting Love,’’ P-D-C; “White Gold,’’ P-D-C; “The Yankee Clipper,’’ P-D-C; “Alaskan Adventures,’’ Pathe; “Wolf’s Clothing,’’ Warner Brothers; “Ankles Preferred,’’ Fox, and “The Love Thrill,’’ Universal. lyn’s newest theatres, has a balcony, and seats over 2,000. The purchase price was in excess of $500,000. This is the tenth theatre in the Brandt circuit and all are located in Brooklyn. * The many friends of Dr. W. E. Shallenberger in the industry will be glad to learn that he has opened new offices for Plaza Pictures, Inc., of which he is general manager, at 1650 Broadway. Dr. Shallenberger is perfecting his organization and also working out the details of a production program which will be of marked interest to the trade. Blank^s Riviera Opens; Fox Plans Detroit Theatre (Special to the Herald) OMAHA, March 29. — Omaha, Council Bluffs and many residents of other Nebraskan towns migrated to the opening of the Riviera here March 25. It was built by A. H. Blank. MILWAUKEE. — A new company known as the Wisconsin Universal Theatres, Inc., was formed here recently for the purpose of operating a chain of theatres throughout the state. The company has already taken over theatres in Edgerton and in Reedsburg, and just recently purchased the Stoppenbach block at Jefferson which will be turned into one of the finest theatres in that section. RACINE, WIS. — The Crown theatre of Stephen Dorece opened last week. KANSAS CITY. — Universal plans to make a modern house of the Uptown here. Work on a local suburban theatre will start next month. Mrs. Amy H. Priestly is owner of the property. Kent Signs for Five More Years As FP'L Manager ( special to the Herald) NEW YORK, March 29. — Sidney R. Kent, general manager of Famous, has just signed a new five-year contract which becomes operative on expiration of his present agreement which still has 18 months to run. “Thus for the next six years and a half I shall continue with Paramount those pleasant relations which have marked my career for the last nine years,” Kent stated. Eastern papers have printed rumors that Kent was to resign. Swanson Entertains (Special to the Herald) HOLLYWOOD, Mar. 29.— Gloria Swanson, United Artists star, entertained 50 writers of the trade press and local newspapers at her Beverly Hills home Sunday. Warner Signs Oland (Special to the Herald) HOLLYWOOD, Mar. 29.— Jack L. Warner, in charge of production of Warner Brothers, has signed Warner Oland, character actor, to a long term contract. Actress Drops Suit HOLLYWOOD, Mar. 29.— Charlotte Mineau, character actress, who brought suit against a cab company, has settled her claim for $10,000.